Slipper for bathers.



E. R. PARKER. v SLIPPER FOR BATHERS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1908,

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

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.dlto r'wbey EMMA REATTA PARKER, or CINCINNATI, oHIo.

SLIPPER FORBATHTEBS.

No. 9oo,ss1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

Application. filed JanuaryZO, 1908. Serial No. 411,577. I

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, EMMA R-nA'r'rA PARKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Slippers for Bathers, of whic the following is a specification.

My 'nvention relates to foot wear, and has for its object the provision of a dress for the foot of the greatest possible openness and hghtness of construction combined with, as nearly as possible, a perfect sup ort and protection for the foot, which, whil suitable for wear 1n various places and under various conditions, will be particularly suitable for the use of bathers, especially those resorting to the sea shore and other open air bathing places.

heel of the slipper.

My invention consists in a shell composed of renitent material whereby it is adapted to preserve the form of the foot, at the same time yielding to the pressure of the foot in sufiicient degree to insure comfort in the wear of the slipper, and adapted to retain its renitency when exposed to water, in combi nation with a lining for the shell composed of material ada' ted to form acushion nd dry su port for t e sole of the foot and retain its so tness and dryness when exposed to the water, and at the same time give bulk enough to the slipper to overcome the effect of the water which the renitent material must add,

together with a woven inner lining for the slipper adapted to further cushion the interim of the shipper, and to be removed therefrom and rep aced therein or exchanged for a similar inner lining, sothata clean and dry llliiner lining may always be provided with the s per.

n the drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a slipper embodying my invention,

the section being taken from the toe to the Fig. 2 is a detail peripective view of the woven inner lining. 1g. 3 is a partial section ofa slipper embodymg a slig t modification of my invention. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a slipper embodying a further modification of my invention. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the slipper. Fig. 6 1s a general erspective view from the rear showing the slipper on the foot and the preferred manner of lacing and tying the tape. Fig. 7 is a further perspective view showing the sli per on the-foot, this view being from the fi'ont.

As I construct my invention to carry out the requirements above enumerated, 1 provide the shell 1, the most essential quality of which is its renitency, by virtue of which it resists the pressure of the foot sufliciently to maintain the form thereof as desired, while at the same time affording the comfort necessary to an article of wearing apparel. In order that it may be renitent, the shell 1 is .constructed with very thin walls having suflicient firmness, combined with resiliency, .to effectually maintain the form of the foot, while at the same time yielding slightly when the foot-is used in standing or walking- This also secures the proper lightness. For con-- structing this shell 1 I prefer to use aluminum, and, since, althou h aluminum is a comparatively light meta it would be comparatively heavy for the construction of a shoe to be used by a bather in the water, I provide the slipper with a lining or insole 2 of cork or other subereous material, which lining is comparatively thick, and by holding the foot away from the bottom of the shell, increases the bulk of the slipperwithoutcorrespondingly increasing its weight. At the same time this cork lining or insole performs the equally desirable function of supplyin a comfortable cushion for the foot of t 1e wearer, and, being flexible as well as soft,

will conform not 0111 to the shape of thebottom of the foot while in standing position,

but to the movements of the foot while the wearer is walking. This conformation is facilitated also by the elasticity of the thin renitent shell of the slipper. It may also be noted that the function of the shell 1, of metal or other heavy material, and the lining 2, are reciprocal, since, while the use of the cork of sufficient thickness to provide a comfortable and impervious cushion for the bottom of the foot is desirable, the use of sucha proportion of cork in the shoes or slippers of a bather, were these shoes or slippers of the ordinary construction and material, such as leather or rubber, .the added bulk with the absence of a corresponding increase in weight would cause the shoes or slippers to have a tendency to float, and would thus prove a detriment to a swimmer in degree proportionate to the amount of cushioning material thus used in the foot wear.

Further referring to the use of such mate-1 rial as leather ,or rubber, it may also be explained that these materials donot possess the quality of renitency or resilience combined with firmness to a sufficient degree to maintain the form of the foot as desired, unless such materials are used in the construction of the shoe or slipper in such quantity as to make them excessively heavy and preclude their adaptability for bathing purposes. Another objection to the use of shoes of such construction and of the ordinary material, as have been heretofore employed, is that they are particularly undesirable on account of the fact that they are quickly affected by the water, holding the water around the foot, and in the case of leather, becoming hard and stiff and giving away to the destructive action of the water. Although rubber is more desirable than leather for resisting the effect of the water, it is subject to the above objection on account of the fact that it holds the water around the foot, as well as to the fact that it is of no use in maintaining the shape of the foot, due to its extreme elasticity and lack of firmness. This observation in regard to rubber for the use of slippers for bathers is not intended to extend to the use of hard rubber, since that material possesses many of the characteristics which would make it a desirable one for constructing the shell of the slipper according to my invention.

With the use of the shell of material unaffected by the water, and this shell being provided with a cushion composed of material which is im ermeable to water and which is of low speci 'c gravity, while at the same time being soft and elastic enough to insure comfort to the wearer, the foundation of the slipper thus comprised of this combination is particularly adapted to the comfort of the wearer, as well as to allow the production of foot wear of this character which will have the neat a pearance desired. Although the shell 1 an( its lining 2 are both impermeable to water, so that they do not become watersoaked and uncomfortable, they would, due to this quality, if of closed formation similar to the usual shoe or slipper, hold a considerable quantityof water around the foot of the wearer. This closed construction .would also be particularly undesirable in the use of stiff material, such as metal, and I therefore give my improved slipper an 0 en, shallow, general formation, and it woulil very closely approach the form of a sandal were it not for the fact that I provide extensions on the walls 3 of the shell, such as the extension 4 on the inner side of the slipper and the extension 5 on the outer side thereof. In constructing the shell of the slipper, these extensions are so formed that they are adapted to embrace the foot of the wearer in the region of the most prominent parts of the foot around the junction of the toes with the instep, the extension on the inner side embracing the ball of the foot, while the extension on' the outer side embraces the foot adjacent to the base of the small toe. These extensions are thus provided to embrace the foot in the parts as explained, due to the fact that j the foot, when standing or walking, is disposed to spread laterally, due to the weight of the body, this spreading being prevented ordinarily by the use of shoes or slippers made of leather and of comparatively closed and secure construction, the tension of the material used in the construction of the shoe or slipper being relied upon to resist the spreading pressure of the foot.

In constructing a shoe for'usc in the water, the closed construction, with its tendency to retain the water, and the necessity of using a comparatively large amount of material in the construction of the shoe or slipper, and thus making it heavy, are objectionable, so that the extreme open construction in combination with the use of a material of sulficient firmness to support the foot and prevent its spreading, by merely embracing 1t, as do the extensions 4 and 5, is found to accomplish the desired result.

The walls 3 of the shell serve to support the sides of the foot where the spreading effeet-does not re uire to be counteracted to 'such a marked egree, and also protect the foot along the sides, as it is desirable that a shoe or slipper should do. Forward, the Walls of the shell converge around the toes and are provided with an upward, rearwardly extending extension 6, which extension 6 is provided with openings 7 through which a tape or ribbon or string may be passed, as 1s illustrated in various figures of t 1e drawing. To the rear, the shell is provided with a comparatively high extension 8, which serves to mclose the heel of the wearer to protect it as well as steady the slipper on the foot. Openings 9 and 10 are provided in this heel 'inclosin extension at its forward part on the inner si e and outer side, respectively, of the slipper, and preferably a third opening 11 is provided, slightly to the outside of the middle of the slipper, in the rearward part of this heel inclosing extension.

The foot embracing extensions 4 and 5 are provided with slots or openings 12 and 13, respectively. Within the shell, after the cork insole or lining 2 has been inserted, an inner lining 14 is placed, this inner lining 14 being preferably of a woven material such as the foot is accustomed to, and of a rather heavy weave, so that it constitutes a complete cushion interposed between the bottom of the foot and the cork insole, and between the sides of the foot and the adj aeent walls and extensions of the shell, thus adding to the comfort of the wearer. This inner lining 14 is of such shape that when it occupies its position in the shell and on the cork insole, its edges conform to the outline or edges of the walls 3 and the extensions 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the shell, and is provided with I well known manner of finishing button holes in clothing and the edges of the inner linin are properly stitched in any manner usua in making a garment from woven material. This inner lining is thus constructed entirel independent of theshell and the cork inso e, but is made to conform to these parts, so that although it may be removed and replaced with great convenience for drying or washin or for substituting anew lining when t e old one is worn .or soiled, it may, with equal facility, be held in the shell above the cork insole by passing the tape 21 through the various coincidlng openings in the shell and inner lining, as is best 1llustrated in Fig. '5 of the drawing.

As will be noted, the openings or slots in the shell and the inner lining are of sufficient length to admit a tape or ribbon of *reaterwi th than the tape 21, thus allowing atitude of choice in regard to this feature, which may be made to serve an ornamental purpose, as evidenced in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, as well as the useful u ose of holding the inner liningin the she l W: on the slipper is off the foot, and of holding the slip-- per on the foot and reinforcing the shell 1 1n the performance of its function for preserving the formof. the foot. This reinforcement of the shell 1 by the tape 21 is best effected by lacing it as illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, where the two members of the tape pass from the opening 7 in' the forward toe inclosing extension, rearwardly to the outside of t e inner and outer extensions 4 and 5, and inward through the slots or openings 12 and 13 in the extensions 4 and 5, respectively, then cross 'over the instep of the foot, as is best illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawing, then pass inward through the openings 9" and 10 inthe heel inclesin extenslon, and are earned around the an e and one of them carried through the opening 11 in the rear of the heel inclosing extension, the lacing being completed by tying, preferably on the outside of the ankle, which enables an ornamental effect to be obtained in addition to the useful effect. It is especially desirable that the tape 21 in passing throu h the openings 12 and 13, and 9 and 10, should pass in the rea ward direction inwardly of the slipper as a ove described, so that when the tape is drawn firmly around the foot, its full reinforcin effect on the extensions of the shell may e obtained.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the shell 1 forms the complete outside of the slip er, and is not provided with any downwarr ly extending heel, such as is present on the shoes usuand constructing a se arate heel shell 22,

which may be attache to the shell 1 in any suitable manner, such as b the seam 23, after which the heel shell 22 is provided with a cork filling 24, over which is placed the cork insole 2, giving the finish to the interior of the slipper. The cork filling 24 in the thin shell 22 reinforces it without adding an objectionable amount of weight to the slipper. It may also be noted that the bottom of the heel 22 may be corrugated, as at 25, to prevent slipping which would otherwise be an objectionable feature with the use of a metal heel. This would also be present with the use of a metal sole, and I therefore represent the shell of the slipper illustrated in Fig. 1 as having corru atlons 26 on its bottom. The interior of t e bottom of the shell 1 is thus also corrugated and serves to receive the lower side of the cork insole 22, and, becoming embedded in the lower sur.- face thereof, serves to steady the insole in the shell, which insole, preferably, is not fastened in an other way, so that it also is removable. terial for the outer surface of the slipper other than the material composing the renitentshell 1, I prefer to construct m invention as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the rawing, in which the shell 1 is in every way similar to the shell 1, excepting that the heel inclosing extension is absent and the bottom of the shell is discontinued short of the rearward termination of the sli per, the wall 3 of the shell being prefera 1y gradually curved down to the end of the shell thus formed, so that the renitcncy of the shell is only taken advantage of to embrace and support the forward part of the foot, and which is sufficient, since the heel inclosing extension on -wardly, and is provi ed with the rearward heel inclosing extension 28 which affords all the protection necessary for the heel of the foot. This outer covering 27 may be provided with a heel of any size and shape as desired, such as the heel 29, and the plate 1 continuing over this heel, serves to reinforce the outer covering in the region of its shank 30 in the manner well known in the con-* .struction of boots and shoes. ;inner surface of the bottom of the shell 1 Covering the cork insole 2 represented in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

This continuous cork insole 2 ere it is desired to use a ma no i gives the finish to the bottom of the interior of the slipper, and fitting firmly and tightly, completely covers and reinforces the joint 31 between the shell 1 and the outer covering 27. Over the cork insole the inner lining 14 is placed, and the outer covering 27 being provided with openings similar to the openings 9, 10 and 11, in the shell 1, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing, and with openings coinciding with the openings 7, 12 and'13 in the shell, the tape 21 may be passed through these openings and the coin ciding openings in the inner lining 14*, thus securing the various parts together, ready for use.

The construction thus illustrated in Fig. 4 and just described is particularly suitable where it is desired that the outside of the slip er may be of any composition which, whi e it may have the required impermeability and consequent suitableness for use in the water, may lack either the firmness or the resiliency which the use of the renitent shell 1 in combination therewith, will fully supply. The advantage of thus using an outer covering in combination with the renitent shell consists in the possibility of conveniently forming the heel 29, as well as giving the slipper an outward appearance other than that which would be afiorded with the use of the renitent shell alone, which would be constructed of a material that might not be satisfactory in appearance to certain wearers.

For the purpose of finishing the edge of the shell, it may be turned or beaded as illustrated at 32 in'Fig. 7 of the drawing, where the edge is thus beaded in the region of the heel inclosing extension8. This finishing of the edge is particularl desirable around the part adjacent to the eel, to facilitate the insertion of the foot into the slip-' per and prevent the tearing of the stockings grid possible uncomfortable abrasion of the cot.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be understood that while I have referred to certain specific details of construction, as well as to the advantages of my invention in producing an ornamental effect, I do not wish to be understood as claiming such s ecific details separately as new, nor do I c aim the ornamental effect, which is merely incidental, but

.What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a slipper for bathers, a renitent shell adapted to preserve the form of the foot said shel being adapted to retain its renitency when exposed to water, and a linin for the shell composed of subereous materia whereby a cushion is formed for the foot and bulk given to the slipper, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a slipper for bathers, a renitent shell and a woven inner lining therefor, removably secured therein, said 'shell being adapted to retain its renitency when exposed to water, and the inner lining being removable for the purpose of drying it, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a slipper for bathers, a renitent shell having foot embracing parts, and a woven inner lining for the shell, the foot embracing parts of the shell and the inner lining being provided with coinciding openings through which a tape may be inserted to hold the lining in the shell and to hold the slipper on the foot, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a slipper for bathers, a renitent shell adapted to preserve its form against the pressure of the foot and to retain its renitency when exposed to water, a lining for the shell impermeable to water and adapted to form a cushion within the shell and to give bulk to the slipper, and an inner lining for the slipper, com osed of woven material, said renitent shel having foot embracing parts, and the foot embracing parts of the shell having openings which coincide with openings in the woven inner linin through which a tape may be inserted toliold the lining in the shell and to hold the slipper on the foot, substantially as and for the urposes specified.

5. In a slipper for idathers, a renitent shell adapted to preserve the form of the forward part of the foot, an outer covering adapted to embrace the shell and the heel of the foot, said shell and said outer covering conforming in outline, a lining extending over the inside of the shell and the heel part of the outer covering, whereby a continuous insole is provided for the slipper and bulk given thereto,

and a woven inner lining for the sli )per, of

outline conforming to the outline of t 1e renitent shell and of the outer covering, said inner lining, renitent shell and outer covering being provided with coinciding openings through which a tape may be inserted to hold the inner lining, the shell and the outer covering together and to hold the slipper on. the foot, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a slipper for bathers, a renitent shell, adapted to retain its renitency when exposed to water, of shallow general formation provided with upward extensions adapted to embrace the foot in the region of the junction of the toes with the instep to prevent the spreading of the foot, and provided forwardly with a rearwardly extending toe inclosing extension, said slipper being provided rearwardly with a heel inclosing extension, and with a removable woven inner lining conforming in outline to the shallow general formation of the shell and its foot embracing and toe inclosing extensions and the heel inclosing extension of the slipper, said extenl substantially as and for the purposes specisions and said lining being provided with 00- fied. 'incidjng 0 enings through which a tape may a EMMA REATTA PARKER.

be inserte to hold the lining in the shell and I 5 to hold the slipper on the foot and reinforce Witnesses:

the renitent s ell in the performance of its JAMES N. RAMSEY, function of maintaining the form of the foot, I CLARENCE PERDEW. 

